Professor Keith Mathieson

Institute of Photonics

Contact

Personal statement

My research is focussed on the development of devices to interface with neural systems. These are microfabriated, optoelectronic, implantable devices to record and activate neural activity within the brain. I hold a 10-year award from the Royal Academy of Engineering as part of their Chair in Emerging Technologies scheme, with a focus on neurotechnology.​

Back to staff profile

Publications

Photovoltaic retinal prosthesis with high pixel density
Mathieson Keith, Loudin James, Goetz Georges, Huie Philip, Wang Lele, Kamins Theodore I, Galambos Ludwig, Smith Richard, Harris James S, Sher Alexander, Palanker Daniel
Nature Photonics Vol 6, pp. 391-397 (2012)
https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2012.104
Depth-specific optogenetic control in vivo with a scalable, high density µLED neural probe
Scharf Robert, Tsunematsu Tomomi, McAlinden Niall, Dawson Martin D, Sakata Shuzo, Mathieson Keith
Scientific Reports Vol 6 (2016)
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep28381
Photovoltaic restoration of sight with high visual acuity
Lorach Henri, Goetz Georges, Smith Richard, Lei Xin, Mandel Yossi, Kamins Theodore, Mathieson Keith, Huie Philip, Harris James, Sher Alexander, Palanker Daniel
Nature Medicine Vol 21, pp. 476–482 (2015)
https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3851
Chronically implantable μ LED arrays for optogenetic cortical surface stimulation in mice
Greer Ryan, Verdier Antonin, Butt Emma, Cheng Yunzhou, Callas Ella, McAlinden Niall, Aniorte Alicia, Mabrouk Kakaouia Eya, Pereyra Magdalena, Dawson Martin D, Bathellier Brice, Mathieson Keith
Nature Communications Vol 17 (2026)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-68191-5
Amorphous silicon resistors enable smaller pixels in photovoltaic retinal prosthesis
Shin Andrew, Jensen Nathan, Butt Emma, An Jeonghyun, Pham-Howard Davis, Galambos Ludwig, Mathieson Keith, Kamins Theodore, Palanker Daniel
Journal of Neural Engineering Vol 22 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ae0522
Depth-resolved fiber photometry of amyloid plaque signals in freely behaving Alzheimer’s disease mice
Byron Nicole, McAlinden Niall, Pisano Filippo, Pisanello Marco, Ferreira Jacques, Montinaro Cinzia, Mathieson Keith, De Vittorio Massimo, Pisanello Ferruccio, Sakata Shuzo
Neurophotonics Vol 12 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1117/1.NPh.12.3.035014

More publications

Back to staff profile

Research Interests

The Neurophotonics research team develops optoelectronic devices to interface with neural systems in an effort to understand aspects of neural processing. We collaborate closely with leading neuroscientists and develop high-end technology using advanced semiconductor processing techniques.​

Current research focuses on the following:​

  • ​Technologies for optogenetic control of neural circuits to further our understanding of brain function (see the EU-funded DEEPER consortium) and ​
  • Optoelectronic devices that function as prosthetic devices to restore lost function – for example, our work on retinal prosthetics with Stanford University and our involvement in the EU-funded HearLight project.​

The research is underpinned by a 10-year, £2.8M award from the Royal Academy of Engineering through their Chair in Emerging Technologies scheme.​

We have a close collaboration with Dr Shuzo Sakata’s neuroscience team, where together we have formed an emerging neurotechnology effort at Strathclyde, that brings together physicists, engineers and neuroscientists to develop new technologies aimed at furthering our understanding of the brain.​

Professional Activities

Pint of Science
Recipient
20/5/2026
External PhD Examiner, Kurtulus Bulus U. Edinburgh
Examiner
27/4/2026
External PhD Examiner, Linda Piscopo IIT
Examiner
15/4/2026
SU2P Symposium
Participant
23/3/2026
Talk at UK Neurotech meeting
Speaker
25/11/2025
External PhD Examiner for Amad Shah Idil
Examiner
7/11/2025

More professional activities

Projects

A chronically implantable microLED array for optogenetics
Mathieson, Keith (Principal Investigator)
11-Jan-2025 - 10-Jan-2026
Scotland – North California Photonics Partnership
Mathieson, Keith (Principal Investigator)
01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2026
Fraunhofer UK Research Limited: Studentship Agreement | Vladimirova, Vanesa
Mathieson, Keith (Principal Investigator) Sakata, Shuzo (Co-investigator) Vladimirova, Vanesa (Research Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2024 - 01-Jan-2028
RAEng Chair in Emerging Technologies: Neural Interfaces for the Understanding and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Conditions | Vladimirova, Vanesa
Mathieson, Keith (Principal Investigator) Sakata, Shuzo (Co-investigator) Vladimirova, Vanesa (Research Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2024 - 01-Jan-2028
A wireless device for tapered fibre optogenetics
McAlinden, Niall (Principal Investigator) Mathieson, Keith (Academic) Stoyanov, Svetoslav (Researcher)
There is a growing demand for wireless, site-specific optogenetic devices that enable precise neural modulation without constraining naturalistic animal behaviour. Tapered optical fibres are commonly used in optogenetics because they enable multisite and large-volume illumination within a minimally invasive probe, while also serving as both excitation and collection elements for fibre photometry. Their tapered geometry acts as a mode demultiplexer: higher-order modes emit near the base of the taper, whereas lower-order modes emit closer to the tip. However, achieving controlled mode-selective coupling into multimode fibres typically requires bulky optical hardware, meaning that in vivo experiments rely on tethered fibre-optic connections. These tethers restrict natural movement and limit the range of behavioural paradigms that can be explored.

To overcome these constraints, we have developed a lightweight (<3 g, including battery) wireless headstage capable of driving tapered‑fibre optogenetics. The system integrates a wireless communication module with a multi‑site light‑delivery module. The communication module consists of an STM microcontroller with integrated Bluetooth and an Intan digital electrophysiology stimulator/amplifier microchip which in this device supports electrical recording from four channels at up to 20 kHz sampling rate and provides sufficient current to drive four light sources. The light delivery module includes 4 edge-emitting semiconductor lasers which are mounted so that they couple into a fibre optic at different angles. This configuration enables independent illumination of four distinct sites along the tapered fibre.
01-Jan-2024
High-density chronic optogenetic interface for primate brains - Yr 1
Mathieson, Keith (Principal Investigator) McAlinden, Niall (Research Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2025

More projects

Back to staff profile

Contact

Professor Keith Mathieson
Institute of Photonics

Email: keith.mathieson@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 4901